Toyota sponsors first paraplegic Cape Epic team

These enthusiastic cyclists are covering 698km and climb 15,650m over the eight days. The race started at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville and ends at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.

Toyota South Africa is firmly behind South African sport with various sponsorships in athletics, cycling, and rugby. Toyota has been the official vehicle sponsor of the Comrades marathon for five consecutive years as well as a long standing partner of Cycle Lab SuperCycling Club. Toyota is also in its third year of sponsoring Cheetahs Rugby.

Kerry Roodt, GM: marketing communications at Toyota South Africa had the following to say about team Driepoort Toyota: "For Toyota the involvement with team Driepoort Toyota and the Absa Cape Epic is a natural extension of its support for the Toyota Cycle Lab SuperCycling Club. We also believe that team Driepoort Toyota is paving the way for further development of the para-cyclists around the world and will serve as an inspiration worldwide. "

No strangers

Van Niekerk and Wilson have been riding together on the track and on road for a while so they are no strangers. The team follows a strict eating plan and training schedule and train together two to three times a week if their busy schedules allow.

"We both work full-time which allows only time to train on weekends. We both race on the track as well and will sometimes fit in a track session during the week if work allows," says Wilson.

Van Niekerk, a motoring journalist by profession as well as a South African Guild of Motoring Journalists jury member, will be competing for the first time. Wilson who works as a project manager will be competing in the Absa Cape Epic for the second time. He also competed in the UCI Para-cycling World Track Championship in 2012 and broke the South African C5 4000m record.

Van Niekerk talks about his race expectations, "I don't really know what to expect in terms of terrain as I have not raced much in the Cape, but one thing's for sure - it's going to be tough. The Epic has a reputation for being tough, but I'm ready for the suffering."

"There is no doubt that the Absa Cape Epic will be tough but with thorough preparation, hard work and motivation, we believe that team Driepoort Toyota will make us proud. We wish them luck for the race and are behind them all the way," concludes Roodt.